​​​projects

Women Empowerment

The Raipur Institute of Medical Science, in partnership with Grameen Education Fund, has initiated a program to rehabilitate mentally-ill females and provide them with vocational training so that once these ladies are brought back to society, they are able to take care of themselves.

It is unfortunate that in many villages throughout rural India, including in Raipur, most men do not work and spend their days drinking. They own farming land but do not take care of their fields. The women are expected to work throughout the day in the fields and then also take care of their families at homes. Many times, the men will beat their women if they are not satisfied with their work. It is not rare for the women to eventually become mentally-ill and require psychiatric assistance. These women are generally abandoned by the family and left homeless on the streets.

The Raipur Institute of Medical Sciences finds these homeless women and brings them to its facilities. It provides free medical attention, food, and housing until these women are able to take care of themselves. Since the ladies have nothing to go back to and no land of their own, they must learn other vocational skills to survive. They can choose from many options. For instance, crafts and trade are commonly taught skills. Others may choose to learn how to sew if they want to be a tailor. By the end, all learn an in-demand skill.

Previously volunteers have helped teach them a different set of skills so that they can re-enter society and fend for themselves. This has led to having every month over ten females rehabilitated, trained, and returned back to society. As a volunteer and care provider, the best feeling is when the ladies come back to visit and share how they are doing so much better and how much their lives have improved from before.

"All kids deserve an opportunity. We're not accountable for where we're born into, but we are accountable for the opportunities we can provide for others.”

Children empowerment

Sometimes a kid deserves to just be a kid. They deserve a childhood where they can play ball and laugh with their friends. Unfortunately, for these children, they do not get that chance. Very soon after their early years, they are expected to grow up and begin work in the field. Very few families send their children for an education past high school but instead have them stay to help provide for the family. These kids are never taught about basic health care, nutrition, arts, or sports.

The Raipur Institute of Medical Science, in partnership with Grameen Education Fund, takes the initiative to educate these children with a wide array of disciplines. By running free pediatrics and dental clinics, we are able to keep them healthy and teach them the importance of healthcare. With the region’s vast issues in malnutrition, stunted growth is very common. For that reason, we teach them the basics of having a well-rounded diet and provide free meals every day. In terms of extracurriculars, we run after-school arts and sports classes every day at free of cost so that they can get a chance to lead fuller lives.

Many of these programs are run with the help of volunteers. The laughs, the smiles, and the bonds that are developed between these children and the volunteers are life-lasting. We let these kids be kids. Our work is not rocket science, but we are instigating change in a culture that doesn’t believe in healthcare or extracurriculars. These children go home every day fulfilled and share their day’s adventures with their families. They are the next generation, the generation of change, and if we are able to teach them lessons from our societies, we will help propel them forward.​